Aquarium Vows Dialogue After Penguin Welfare Outcry
The owners of the Sea Life London Aquarium have pledged to engage with critics and listen to 'constructive ideas' regarding the care of their gentoo penguins. This commitment comes after a significant public and political campaign highlighted concerns about the birds being held in an indoor enclosure at the central London attraction.
Political Pressure and Public Petition
The move by Merlin Entertainments follows a coordinated campaign that saw 75 MPs from across the political spectrum join animal welfare activists. They demanded the release of the 15 penguins, which they described as being 'trapped in a basement without sunlight or fresh air'. The MPs signed an open letter to Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, calling for an urgent review into the welfare of the birds and to consider relocating them to a facility better suited to their needs.
Adding to the pressure, a petition organised by the campaign group Freedom For Animals has gathered more than 37,000 signatures. The campaign has also attracted high-profile support from musician and environmentalist Feargal Sharkey and naturalist Chris Packham, who attended a protest at the aquarium last month.
Aquarium's Defence and Proposed Path Forward
In response, a spokesperson for Merlin Entertainments clarified that the penguin enclosure is on the ground floor, not in a basement. They defended the facility, stating their team of specialists provides daily care to ensure the birds are 'healthy and thriving'.
The spokesperson explained that the indoor habitat replicates the penguins' natural environment with climate-controlled temperatures and filtered fresh air, conditions they argued 'can't easily be replicated outdoors'. They emphasised that releasing these particular penguins into the wild is not a safe option as they have always lived in human care.
However, acknowledging the strong public sentiment, the company announced it will hold facilitated one-to-one and group discussions with campaigners, specialists, and political representatives. 'We genuinely want to listen, learn and understand their perspectives,' the spokesperson said, promising to carefully consider any practical suggestions that guarantee the same high standard of health and wellbeing for the penguins.
